Time for Obama Team to Call General Wesley Clark and Request His Services

The Obama campaign needs to reverse course and reach out to General Wesley Clark who is the No. 1 most requested surrogate by Democratic Party fundraisers. He is a thoughtful, top tier, command experienced strategist. He once told me that we need to organize an "Urgent Action Climate Change Task Force."

How many generals are really, totally committed to climate change as a national security issue? The answer is not many -- but Wesley Clark is.

And first in September 2005 and then again in January 2006 at events that I helped organize, Wesley Clark laid out brilliantly the reasons why Iran must be engaged with a broad negotiation agenda without preconditions. He broke the ground for engaging Iran -- far before any other possible presidential contender did so.

We hear too much about a comment that Clark made about McCain on "Face the Nation" (which was technically correct) -- but we don't hear enough about the times he was right before just anyone on some tough calls -- particularly on Iran.

I'll never forget his speech at YearlyKos in Chicago 2007 when he called on President Bush to stop hiding between David Petraeus.

The Obama campaign has not offered a "role" -- as of yet -- to General Clark at the Democratic convention.

I have been told by Wesley Clark's office that the General would do anything he could do on behalf of the party and on behalf of Barack Obama if he could be of service. He has two board of directors meetings scheduled the week of the convention, but I know that he would adjust his schedule to be there. He wants to play a role -- and I think Dems need him now and will need Clark's service for many years ahead.

So, I very much hope that the Obama campaign will reach out to General Clark and offer him a role at the Convention -- a role that fits the stature and service of Wesley Clark.

I know Clark will be there if the Obama campaign engages him. . .because Clark is a dedicated team player, a strong supporter of Obama and the Dems, and someone who Dems should not take for granted.

-continues

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Wesley Clark, a Key Figure in Demonstrating Creative Leadership in Georgia

The Georgian and Russian incursions in Georgia require clear, unequivocal, creative and continuing responses from Barack Obama to assure voters that an Obama administration will be responsive and responsible when international crises erupt.

Fortunately, Senator Obama has General Wesley K. Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and the military leader during the Kosovo conflict, as an unwavering supporter whose experience and leadership in eastern Europe is recognized by European leaders and by the American people. General Clark should be actively engaged in devising the detailed policy recommendations that the Obama campaign must make now and continue to make in the future as the combustible situation on the ground in Georgia evolves.

It is clear that the United States should not threaten the use of force in this conflict. Instead, as Senator Obama has suggested, independent observers should be dispatched to ascertain the conditions on the ground in Georgia and the dissident regions and to seek a resolution of the conflict.

General Clark knows that in a 21st century Europe made transnational in pursuit of trade and commerce, the 19th century solutions to which Russia is prone have no place. Russia should, and can, enter the mainstream of a Europe held together more by economics than national identities. It is to that goal that American policy should be directed and not to the bellicose attitudes and statements of the Bush administration and its supporters.

But somebody with the knowledge, experience and broad international influence has to move the idea of a resolution in Georgia to a reality.

That man is Wesley Clark.

General Wesley Clark Endorses Becky Greenwald For Congress

Waukee, IA – General Wesley Clark announced today he is endorsing Becky Greenwald for Congress. Greenwald is the Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.

In announcing his endorsement, Clark noted Greenwald’s experience caring for Vietnam War veterans and strong commitment to bringing the troops home from Iraq.

“I’m endorsing Becky for Congress because her experience with the American Red Cross assisting wounded veterans returning home from the Vietnam War has shaped her strong commitment to our nation’s veterans,” said General Wesley Clark.

Tom Latham has voted to cut billions from Veterans programs in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. (HCR 95, Vote #78, 3/20/03)

“George Bush and Tom Latham have for too long cut funding for our troops returning from Iraq, and we need Becky in Congress to be a voice for our soldiers,” said General Clark.

Becky’s first job out was of college with the American Red Cross helping military dependents and wounded Veterans returning from Vietnam adjust to a life with injury and the scars of war. She worked at Wilford Medical Center, the largest Air Force Hospital in the country. This experience has shaped her views and left her with an unyielding commitment to keeping the promises we have made to our troops.

Becky supports a phased withdrawal from Iraq and is committed to bringing our troops home in a swift and safe fashion. She supports a timeline for withdrawal that will maintain the safety and well-being of our troops.

“General Clark’s patriotism and service to our country is unmatched,” said Becky Greenwald. “I am honored to have his endorsement.”

Here's the scary part. PUMAPAC is shooting a "documentary" called "The Audacity of Democracy," and they've released a ten minute trailer. I was chilled by the first minute.

I have been trying to figure out, for the life of me, what is funny about a lunatic soliciting the murder of a presidential candidate. I asked Darragh if she could clarify, or provide context for, that passage. She has declined.

Being charitable, you could suppose that she was amused at the absurdity of the suggestion, but why include it, then? To talk about the murder of a presidential candidate, with no context other than 9 minutes of rants against that candidate's "movement" seems a little bit irresponsible.

Then there's a woman stealing public records on camera. In between, more stark raving madness from the extreme edge of Clintonian "thought."

I'd link to them, but I think it best to follow Christopher's good sense example and let sane people explain.

Sen. John McCain, speaking to disabled veterans Saturday in Las Vegas, attacked his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, for his foreign policy record, while also proposing a program that would allow veterans to acquire health care at private hospitals and not just through the Veterans Affairs Department.

The veterans, at Bally’s for their national convention, gave him a tepid reception, especially considering McCain’s life story. The Arizona senator was a Navy pilot shot down over Vietnam, tortured and held as a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years.

Just one of 14 veterans interviewed by the Sun after his speech said he is a certain McCain voter, and the nonpartisan group’s legislative director expressed concerns about McCain’s proposed “Veterans’ Care Access Card.”

-snip

Joe Violanti, legislative director of the Disabled American Veterans, a nonpartisan organization, said the proposal would increase costs because private hospitals are more expensive. The increased cost could lead to further rationing of care, he said.

Duke Hendershot, a double amputee retired Marine who served in Vietnam, supported McCain’s run for president in 2000 but is undecided this year.

“John just isn’t the same as he used to be. He’s not his own man,” said Hendershot...

He said McCain’s embrace of Bush, whom Hendershot called a “draft-dodging coward,” is even more perplexing because of the rivalry between the two candidates during the 2000 campaign.

Hendershot also criticized McCain for taking swipes at Obama in his speech. “He should have been talking about veterans issues, not his opponent,” he said.

By contrast, he praised Obama for keeping his remarks tightly focused on veterans. The Democrat gave taped remarks via video.